Quakers like words, and they produce enough of them, but if there is one form of words they are perhaps sceptical about, it is probably that type that is called ‘Apologetics’. Apologetics have been with Christianity since the very beginning; Christ himself engaged in them with his disputes against the Pharisees and Sadducees, and StContinue reading “Review: Unbelievable? Why, after 10 years of Talking with Atheists, I’m Still a Christian”
Tag Archives: faith
Motivational Maps and Axioms
It was the great GK Chesterton who observed: "In so far as religion is gone, reason is going. For they are both of the same primary and authoritative kind. They are both methods of proof which cannot themselves be proved." What this powerfully reminds us of in the modern period is that it is notContinue reading “Motivational Maps and Axioms”
Visiting the Underworld with Orpheus
When I was a child I was fascinated by myths, and especially those concerning the underworld, what we sometimes call journeys into hell. It is difficult to account for why these sort of stories appeal, although now – at the later end of my life – it’s all very clear: having been to hell –Continue reading “Visiting the Underworld with Orpheus”
Building unshakeable optimism 1
Optimism is one of those prerequisites for a successful life. Why? Because fundamentally it is about our belief system: the belief that things will turn out well. To those who believe, as Jesus himself said, all things are possible. And the well known law of attraction also informs us that what we don't want willContinue reading “Building unshakeable optimism 1”
The importance of belief
Belief is the essence of religions throughout the world, and having belief. And religions throughout the world have at least one commonality: there is not a religion that I am aware of that does not exhort its followers to believe AND as a result of believing to become more perfect – to follow the path.Continue reading “The importance of belief”
Seeing the invisible
In my last blog I mentioned the difference between commodity-driven and value-driven organisations. One corollary of this distinction is the difference between what is visible – a commodity/the money – and what is invisible – a value/the truth. We can see or handle money; but a value – for example, truth – we cannot seeContinue reading “Seeing the invisible”
The mine of darkness
Dante’s Divine Comedy starts: Along the journey of our life half way/ I found myself again in a dark wood … And this leads him on to the entrance to a place where the motto above the gate is, Abandon All Hope You Who Enter Here. [Peter Dale’s – my favourite translation].That place, of course,Continue reading “The mine of darkness”
The Mapping Motivation Series 